Taken on my Oregon Scientific ATC5K, handlebar mounted.

See video of the “Black Run” at Afan’s Whites Level trail.

Arriving a little later than planned due mainly to an unfortunate alarm malfunction, we decided to start off at the old Argoed trail centre starting off with the Penhydd trail, a 17 km Red graded trail (difficult) combining forest road climbs with tight, technical, switchback trails through mixed woodland, a great trail in the dry. We dusted it off in a reasonably swift 1 hour 26 minutes, video of this to follow.

Thankfully, the lack of mechanicals meant we made good time, enough to ride the 7 km picturesque pathway to the new trail centre in Glyncorrwg which hosts the Whites Level trail head. Whites Level is my favourite trail featuring a huge range of absolutely awesome man-made technical riding. Another 17 km, red grade trail featuring some very technical climbing, board walk, slabbed rocky descents, and a Black graded (severe) descent, the relatively new addition named the “Black Run”. I love it. The 7 hour round trip car journey was definitely worth it for the amazing 4 hours in the saddle!

The short video below shows the black run from a helmet camera mounted onto my handlebars. Forgive the shaky picture. Although it doesn’t do the Black Run justice it should give you an idea of it’s challenging technical riding. Hope you like it.

Taken on my Oregon Scientific ATC5K, handlebar mounted.

Look at video from “The Hidden Valley” at Afan’s Penhydd trail.

Meet my off-road full suspension pride and joy, the Specialized Enduro SL Expert, 2007 model.

From reviews I’d read at the time it was clear the engineering and ride-ability of the bike wasn’t in question, having evolved from a trusted and proven design. On the looks front however, it was very much a Marmite experience, you either loved it, or hated it. When I first clapped eyes on one of these back in 2006 I fell in love with the lines and the burly yet light-footed appearance of this updated classic.

The first thing you notice about the bike is the Future Shock E150 fork, a dual crown affair typically seen on downhill rigs, or motorbikes. This was complimented by the AFR Shock at the rear. The second more unusual aspect was the origin of the suspension setups, each Specialized own brand designs for both front and back. Specialized invested in the expertise of Mike McAndrews, who served six years as head of R&D at SockShox, later moving on to Fox Racing then Maverick. His vision was to create a completely integrated system designed from the ground up.

The idea was to create a suspension ride that allowed a balanced and controlled experience for the rider, and in my opionion it all works very nicely thank you very much.

What surprises me most about this bike is it’s ability to climb. Despite the slack angles and long fork, once the E150 altitude adjustment (the black dial) is turned on the fork compresses 40mm to lower the front and change the geometry for easier climbing. The difference is noticeable and the result is a bike capable of fast, comfortable ascending.

The machine descends just as convincingly and confidently as it climbs. With 2.3 inch tyres and wide riser bars the feel is one of full control and positive feedback when descending trails at speed. The suspension carries out it’s duties effortlessly leaving you to focus on the steering.

I’ll be updating this post with a more indepth review over time. For now enjoy some of the close-up images of the Specialized Enduro SL Expert below.

Leanachan Forest also has plenty of unwaymarked forest road for you to explore. All the forest roads are indicated on the trail map.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

Whether you’re totally new to off-road mountain biking, or a seriously expert rider looking for big thrills, there’s a trail here that’s just right for you, from an easy green-graded track to severe black-grade trails and orange-graded downhill and Northshore sections.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

The trails
The 0.4km Green skills trail – all on singletrack – is reached via a road climb from the trail head and is worth a quick blast whatever your riding level.

For those looking to stretch their legs a little more, the recently-upgraded 6km Caddrouns Blue trail is just the ticket. With 50% of the route on singletrack (built with less experienced riders firmly in mind), it’s a fun introduction to real mountain biking. The slightly longer Linns trail (8km) is a scenic route which sticks to forest roads.

For more thrills, a 10.5km red route whizzes through the trees on fast, narrow singletrack for nearly 3km near the start, crossing bridges and boardwalks, and the final exhilarating descent from Swarf Hill will have you going round for a second lap.

If that’s not enough, the orange-graded (bike park) North Shore trail should hit the spot. You’ll find This challenge for advanced riders is to the south of the skills trail.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

With a skills area, café, bike hire and shop on site, it is definitely not to missed.

The trails
The green-graded Big Views and the blue-graded Woodhead loops are a great introduction to mountain biking and Mabie’s striking surroundings. Mostly on forest roads, with a few sections of easy singletrack, there are plenty of ups and downs, but the gradients are not too steep.

The 23km Purple Trail – Lochbank Loop is a mixture forest road and some b-class public road (hence its forest road and similar grading). Making the most of the hills, the route has its fair share of climbing, but just like the Big Views Loop the rewards are there. Enjoy the peaceful roads through the forest and revel in the views that you come across.

The skills area lies a short distance from the cafe near the trail head. If you are a new or intermediate rider, its blue- and red-graded features are ideal for practising your skills before riding the trails or prior to moving up a trail grade. The area includes a fantastic 300m freeride line with plenty of sections for you to practise your jumping technique.

The red-graded Phoenix Trail is a classic mountain bike route – great riding through mixed woodland and wonderful scenery. This 17km ride has testing climbs, fast descents, berms and water splashes. If you like fast, flowing, twisty trails with a few rocky, rooty sections and some jumps, this is your mountain bike heaven.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

There are green, blue, and black graded trails, with a bike park and a dirt jump area (both graded orange). Even our green grade singletrack is not ‘billiard table’ smooth – it gives a sufficient challenge for those wanting more than just forest road-type mountain biking.

For full details,visit www.forestry.gov.uk

Set in the outstanding natural highland beauty of Strathmashie Forest, Wolftrax provides a green-graded beginners’ trail, the thrills of a big-and-bermy Bike Park, a fast red-graded route packed with features and a black-graded trail that’s possibly the most technical of its type in Scotland.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

There are blue, red and black graded trails combining in-forest riding, technical features and forest roads.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

The Trails
The green-graded Bargaly Wood trail uses a mix of minor public roads, wide tracks and one short section of easy singletrack to take you around the scenic Bargaly Glen.

When you’re ready for the next step up the trail riding ladder, try the 2 km blue-graded Taster Loop. You can also practice your technique in the skills area, which has blue, red and black- graded options.

More challenges await on the Larg Hill blue route, with long sections of narrow, flowing singletrack ending in a superb plunge through magnificent woodland. The optional Doon Hill extension adds 4km and some great views.

After a moderate start, The red-graded Twister trail gets more demanding, with rock step-ups, drops, berms and jumpable sections, all on the tight and twisting trail that’s typical of Kirroughtree.

To top it all, the black-grade Black Craigs route ups the ante, adding 14km of challenging riding on to the red route. For many the highlight is ‘McMoab’ – huge slabs and ridges of exposed granite, linked by boulder causeways. Skill and bags of nerve required…

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

For full details, visit www.scottishmountainbike.com

For full details, visit www.scottishmountainbike.com

The Glen is a short (6km) trail which shares the easy singletrack of the first half of the blue route, takes you around the Palnagashel Glen and descends on forest roads back to the visitor centre.

The Palgowan is longer. Starting on the same singletrack as The Glen route, it takes you north on forest roads and a farm track to Palgowan before returning via a climb and long descent around Glencaird Hill. A short cut along the minor public road back to Glentrool Village is available if you want to miss out the climb.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

For full details, visit www.scottishmountainbike.com

Glentress is probably the best biking centre in Britain, winning several awards. It has brilliant trails of all grades, a top-notch café, a bike shop with bike hire, changing and showering facilities, and a great atmosphere.

Innerleithen, situated just a few miles south east of Glentress, is home to some of the UK’s finest downhill and freeride trails, as well as a cracking red-graded XC route.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

For full details, visit www.scottishmountainbike.com

For full details, visit www.scottishmountainbike.com

On the red-graded Hardrock trail things go up a gear, and the surface becomes both rougher and rockier, with several notably challenging stretches. It’s the black-graded sections, however – The Slab, the Terrible Twins and Volunteer Ridge – that get people talking and the heart racing.

Recent trail building has increased the amount of singletrack in the routes and, at the trail head, a skills area with differently-graded loops gives a taste of Dalbeattie riding for those new to the area or to mountain biking. The skills trails total 1.5km in length and are on 100% singletrack.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

The natural beauty of the area, combined with panoramic views, offers “big country” biking in the heart of Scotland within easy reach of the major cities.

The 10.5km of red-graded trails have something for everyone. Linked trail sections provide the option of a short, fun route, or something longer and more challenging on singletrack and forest road.

For full details, visit www.forestry.gov.uk

Runs and jumps, North Shore, singletrack, skinnies, the fun box, aerial structures such as the seesaw that rotates as you pass over it: use them to the limit for a real adrenaline rush!

The park also has a skills development area. It’s a great way to try out some of the manoeuvres you’ll need before putting them to the test.

Aside from the skills development area, the park is for experienced mountain bikers and is graded double black. See the trail grades page for a full description of this grade.

For full details, visit http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/

An entry level mountain bike trail, the Green Route is aimed mainly at families with young children. It’s a 9km loop which runs up the Ae valley to a lovely viewpoint overlooking the Water of Ae. A beautiful place to stop and picnic with lots of rocks around the river.

The Blue Route shares much of its route with the Green trail – the difference is a 4.5km section on forest road, giving a trail length of 13.5km in all. It’s suitable for those families looking to take in a little bit more of the forest than just the short green-graded valley route.

The red-graded Ae Line – Scottish Power Renewables Trail is a challenging, high quality ride through quiet coniferous forest. This route has an aggressive freeride style to it with some large and sometimes intimidating trail features in addition to very steep climbs and descents.

Ridden at speed, things get very exciting, but if you are more cautious you can keep your wheels on the ground all the way round. For many, the highlight of the route is the final descent of Omega Man, with its multiplicity of jumps.

The 1.6km Ae Downhill route provides a bigger challenge. Graded ‘Bike Park/ Extreme’, its seriously gnarly rocky sections, slippery roots and huge drops will satisfy the most demanding of riders. If that’s not enough, try The Shredder, similarly graded, which starts next to the DH track.

For full details, visit http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry

The descents are awesome – but what comes down must first go up, so there are some challenging climbs as well. Fortunately the climbs give you an excuse to sit down and take in the stunning views before enjoying 7.4km of singletrack.

The routes available are graded blue, red and black. See the trail grades page for full descriptions of these grades.

Riding distances depend on where you start from, but the main loop beginning at Achnabreac is 19km long.

For full details, visit http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/

The open, flowing singletrack also crosses young plantations opening up fantastic views.

Big climbs followed by technical descents mean that this trail can be difficult and is exposed to bad weather on high ground.

Trail name: Penhydd
Centre: Afan
Distance: 17km
Climbing: 550m
Time: 1.5 – 3hrs

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

Trail name: Yr Afon
Centre: Coed Y Brenin
Distance: 10.8km (short cut 7km)
Climbing: 100m
Time: 1 – 3hrs

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

A 6km sheep-track climb gives fantastic views of the Afan Valley, extreme exposure on tight singletrack means ultimate thrills and long, demanding descents with rocky steps to negotiate, all leading to one outrageous trail.

If you are up for it try out the optional new Black Run, graded black/severe!

Trail name: Whites Level
Centre: Afan
Distance: 17km
Climbing: 550m
Time: 1.5 – 3hrs

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

Great views of the valley and coastline open out at different points, and in places the steep-sided slopes can feel exposed.

The approach to the singletrack shares a section of the low level family cycleway and the disused railway line, so please ride with consideration for the many other forest users.

Trail name: The Wall
Centre: Afan
Distance: 23km
Climbing: 450m
Time: 1.5 – 3hrs

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

Warning: you will encounter a number of rocky sections including rock steps with a drop of 20cm/8”or more.

Trail name: Temtiwr
Centre: Coed Y Brenin
Distance: 8.7km
Climbing: 170m
Time: 0.5–1hr

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

Warning: you will encounter a number of rocky sections including rock steps with a drop of 20cm/8”or more.

Trail name: Tarw
Centre: Coed Y Brenin
Distance: 20.2km
Climbing: 460m
Time: 1.5 – 3hrs

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

This trail takes in all of the existing summit trail with its fantastic swooping, flowing singletrack, and adds to it by leading you out onto the high open hills with stunning views. It is a long and challenging ride in exposed and remote countryside, so go equipped for any eventuality, including plenty to eat and drink, spares, tools and clothing. Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you expect to be back. It is safer riding with others. Much of the route is on technical doubletrack, which is used by vehicles, walkers and horse riders. Some of it is used as a waymarked horse riding route.

Trail name: Syfydrin Trail
Centre: Nant yr Arian
Distance: 35km
Climbing: 670m
Time: 3 – 5hrs

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

This is a demanding route with some technical singletrack descents and long climbs. Parts are open and exposed, watch out for the weather.

The ‘Summit’ Trail is a roller coaster ride of fantastic purpose built single track that weaves its way through conifer plantations, down steep side slopes and along deep river valleys.

Trail name: Summit Trail
Centre:Nant yr Arian
Distance:16km
Climbing:310m
Time:1.5 – 3.5hrs

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

Sharing the same sheep-track ascent as White’s Level and continuing on long, forest road climbs with sweet, flowing technical singletrack descents you will be treated to stunning, skyline views of the Brecon Beacons, the Preselis, the Black Mountains and the South Wales coast.

This route will test your stamina and your nerve, with technical singletrack such as sections ‘On The Edge’ and ‘Excalibur’. Your reward will be out-stretched views and a nerve-tingling, rocky, 6 km singletrack descent back into Glyncorrwg. There are also 2 short-cut loops built into the trail.

You will experience exposure at altitudes up to 600 metres, and possible extreme weather changes. Again, be prepared.

Any regular mountain bike will be fine for these trails. Just make sure the gears are working and there’s plenty of life left in your brake blocks. As the trails are largely cut into stable base geology, there are only a few mud patches even in deepest winter but a Crud Catcher or similar will keep your face filth free.

Trail name: Skyline
Centre: Afan
Distance: 46km
Climbing: 2000m
Time: 4-7hrs

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

Suitable only for proficient bikers, the trail effortlessly mixes up the more traditional narrow woodland singletracks with Brechfa’s signature brash descents: fast, undulating trail that sweeps between trees and flows sinuously into berms and over jumps.

This trail takes you out into the more interesting corners of the forest and creates a ride that involves the forest’s unique environment, from spooky mossy overhangs to the magnificent Douglas fir Northshore Bridge.

Trail name: Raven Trail
Centre: Brechfa
Distance: 18.5km
Climbing: 725m
Time: 1.5 – 2hr

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

With the help of the excellent Rough Rides website you can unlock the secret singletrack of mile after mile of deserted moorlands before heading back for a well earned pint in the real ale renowned town of Kington.

Not the worn rubble roads of the English parks, this patch just escaped being designated a welsh national park back in the sixties, and some say it’s better for it, certainly quieter.

To escape the stresses of the modern world, albeit for the briefest of times, this is the place.

There are twenty three downloadable routes from four different starting points, for GPs users also downloadable as tracklogs files.

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

Trail name: Penmachno
Centre: Betws y Coed
Distance: 22km
Climbing: 600m
Time: 2 – 3hrs

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

Trail name: Pendam Trail
Centre: Nant yr Arian
Distance: 9km
Climbing: 220m
Time: 1 – 2hrs

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

Warning: you will encounter a number of rocky sections including rock steps with a drop of 20cm/8”or more.

Trail name: MBR
Centre: Coed Y Brenin
Distance: 18.4km
Climbing: 410m
Time: 1.5 – 3hrs

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

Trail name: Marin Trail
Centre: Betws y Coed
Distance: 25km
Climbing: 450m
Time: 2 – 4hrs

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

The original Mach 1-3 trails take you as far out into the wilderness as you want to go on natural, but no less challenging trails. Meanwhile the more recent cli-machx trail winds you high into Dyfi forest before firing you down superbly technical singletrack descents that seem to go on forever.

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

The Ride Hiraethog website means you can hit the best trails right from your first visit, though we guarantee it won’t be your last once you’ve found what’s there.

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

Taking design and construction to new levels, the trail is a hard, fast, all weather surface which becomes more and more exciting as your skill level and speed progresses.

Soon you’ll be railing the perfectly sculpted berms and huge switchbacks, jumping the step up jumps and tabletops and grinning all the way to the bottom of the exhilarating final descent.

The Gorlech red route firmly puts Brechfa on the MTB Wales map as another top destination.

Trail name: Gorlech
Centre: Brechfa
Distance: 19km
Climbing: 1071m
Time: 1.5 – 3hrs

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

Clinging low to the valley sides, the trail eases you in with steady climbs and fun descents. Weaving through the forest you will encounter some lovely scenery and flowing terrain in what has until now been one of Wales’s best kept secrets.

Trail name: Derwen – Green
Centre:Brechfa
Distance:9.2km
Climbing:506m
Time:1.5 – 2hrs

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

Trail name: Derwen – Blue
Centre: Brechfa
Distance: 4.7km
Climbing: 307m
Time: 0.5 – 1hrs

For map and full details, visit MTBWales.com

The wild contouring singletrack of Whyte bikes sponsored Twrch trail, rolling in and out of forests will keep you focused on the trail, but stop and you’ll be looking out over the Bristol Channel.

Cwmcarn is also the ultimate park and play centre for serious gravity slaves.

The Y Mynydd Downhill track is unique in the UK for offering a year round uplift service (details at www.cwmdown.co.uk). [Private Uplifts are not Permitted]

There’s also a purpose built freeride park, full of jump packs, berms, wall rides and a complete corkscrew for getting your eye in before hitting the full descent.

For maps and full details, visitn MTBWales.com

Now the superb natural trail network of the area surrounding the tiny but dynamic town of Llanwrytyd Wells is joined by the small but perfectly formed centre at Coed Trallwm. A superb area to explore for a weekend or more.

Llanwrytyd Wells might be tiny, but it’s a massive presence in mountain biking. Home to super experienced trail guide and event organiser Clive Powell, the legendary bike friendly Neuadd arms, the World MTB Bog Snorkelling championships and the Real Ale Wobble you won’t find a town more geared to knobbly tyres.

Further up the valley Coed Trallwm – with it’s warmly welcoming visitor centre – provides an ideal starting point for exploring both their own trail network and the miles and miles of wild bridleway riding in this stunningly scenic area.

For more information on Coed Trallwm including local accommodation go to: http://www.coedtrallwm.co.uk

For maps and full details, visit MTBwales.com

The forest has mountain biking trails suitable for beginners and family groups, more challenging routes for experienced bikers including a new black run, and a choice of picturesque walking trails. All tracks are completely enclosed within the forest, with no main roads to cross. Within the Visitor Centre there is a café and a variety of facilities for bikers such as a jet wash, and all this just 7 miles from Wrexham and 14 miles from Chester.

For maps and full details, visit MTBWales.com

For maps and full details, visit MBWales.com

Trail name: Beast of Brenin
Centre: Coed Y Brenin
Distance: 38.2km
Climbing: 1015m
Time: 3 – 6hrs

For maps and full details visit MountainbikingWales

From BikesR4riding

Up at 6:30, shower, riding gear on, pre-packed bags and bike into the car, M25, M1, Hemel, transfer gear onto mate’s car, M1, M25, M4, Fog and traffic, arrive 11:30, later than planned, but the skies were blue and despite the cold, the thermals keep me warm.

I love Whites Level, I’ve said it before, but it’s the best climb I’ve ever ridden. If you’re relatively fit it’s an interesting and technical climb with stunning views. A real good lung buster that can be taken at speed still leaving plenty left over for the excitement that follows.

It takes us a leisurely 45 minutes to reach the top where we stop to take in the views and make adjustments to our shock pressures. Before long we’re hitting the black run, a fast and furious section that tests the skills on the many berms and switchbacks, until you hit the final lip and find yourself being launched down a very steep, very technical decent that takes you to the bottom. A nice touch I always like to finish on is riding the narrow slab formation which sits towards the bottom of the steepest part of the decent. A real sense of achievement once complete, cleaned it nicely, what a buzz.

Once we make the fire road climb back to the top we continue to the next section, a lovely undulating decent taking us to the new “Energy” section, starting with a range of tabletops and jumps eventually flowing onto boards that take us through some open forestry, then onto the original boardwalk that gradually throw us out onto the final decent. A long and narrow trail with a wall of Welsh mountain to the left and a sheer drop to the right, concentration is an absolute must. Hit any of the numerous slabs or lips at the wrong angle or at the wron gspeed and it’s either wall to the left, or drop to the right.

Once we’re eventually ejected at the end of the trail you can’t help but feel exhilarated at what is such an interesting and exciting trail to ride. Always something different to keep you on your toes and it’s not too long that you’re completely exhausted by the end of it.

To cap it off we stop by at the “Dropoff” café at the foot of the trail where a well earned and very generously served up homemade chilli con carne on baked potato was quickly devoured.

My only question is, how soon can we go back?

As sick as it might sound, I always look forward to riding the Whites Level climb. Despite being a relatively long 9 km climb, it has to be the most pleasurable climb I’ve ever ridden. It’s technical, keeping the mind occupied, which therefore makes it challenging, and when completed at a good steady pace, it’s very rewarding. Not only that, but when you reach the top, the next section is the black run, which is a fast and furious decline ending in a very steep descent.

After this, it continues onto the boardwalk section, which has been revised more recently to include more boards through open countryside. Fun, but brutal in high winds.

The final descent takes in a breathtaking range of big stepped drops, switchbacks and fast narrow off-camber adrenalin rushed fun. I’ll tell you more of this experience later on my return.

In the meantime, tell us what your favourite all-time trail is…

… we stopped off at the tea cabin for our obligatory coffee, cheese ham and pickle roll and cake that I really have something to say.

It was fairly busy and the queue must have been 6 people long by the time I joined the end of it. The lady who usually took the orders was not there and I think her parents were looking after business in her absence. They were slower to serve people than usual, although it may have been my impatience to get stuck into my snack that made me think this. Anyway, the queue had grown behind me as a gent on his road rig and three lads on their Marin off-roaders stopped by for some refreshments.

From nowhere, I noticed an older guy in a leather jacket decided the end of the queue was not at the back, but two people in front of me. No one mentioned anything until the queue moved on and everyone shuffled along. The gent before me suddenly piped up and commented, informing him of his misunderstanding. The leather clad man didn’t move. However at this point another man in front of him interjected. He was a pretty big an tall guy wearing a high viz motorbike jacket, who was evidently in a pretty good mood. Although at this point there was no situation to speak of, the high viz guy tried to alleviate the awkwardness with a little banter, he was definitely in highly spirited and actually offered to buy the man and his partner the cup of tea that he had queue jumped to get.

High viz man saw this as a good deed done and when it came to his turn to order, off they went until eventually I got served and was able to refuel.

It was only when we were sitting on a bench tucking into our cheese, ham and pickle sarnies that we couldn’t help but notice high viz man on the phone. He was quite loudly talking to someone about an incident that happened earlier in the day where a motorist was evidently driving a little closer to him than he would have liked. It transpired that at the following junction where both he on his moped and the car stopped, he dismounted and proceeded to kick the car’s wing mirror clean off and followed up by attempting to smash his way through the driver’s window. At this point the began to quote his piece to the driver, which went something along the lines of “if I get you I’m going to rip your head off and piss down your throat”. He claimed to have caused around £850 worth of damage to the car and said that it was probably the last time he’ll drive that close to a motorcycle.

What a nutter. Talk about Jekyll and Hyde. The guy was so pleasant one minute, yet so destructive the next. Just goes to show that you really never know who your standing next to in a queue.

The delay in posting, having thought about it may be due to the mental block suffered as part of my participation. Scarred by the experience, I’ve only just recovered enough to write about it. In honesty, it wasn’t that bad, but it was no walk in the park either.

Having completed the London triathlon back in the summer, myself and a few close buddies that took part thought it a good idea to enter an event that would keep the fitness levels up and provide a challenge before the year end. After a bit of Googling, we came across the GRIM Duathlon, a new event that entails 5 km run, 20 km off-road bike, then another 5 km run, all cross-country based terrain, on an army training facility in Aldershot, Surrey.

Not knowing what to expect we turned up to what was a very well organised and run event. There were plenty of fairly serious competitors mixed in with the more have-a-go types, like myself, all of which contributed to a fun vibe throughout. Before the starting gun fired I took advantage of the portaloo facilities, which considering the location were well kept, providing a surprisingly sanitised experience. Having flushed my system of the morning coffee and nervousness, I set off towards the starting line where my two mates were.

Final stretches (not enough), event briefing done, BANG! We’re off, to what is a relatively slow start, building up pace the field begin to spread out. Looking ahead I noticed a pinch point as we entered the forest section, not quite sure what was going on I just followed the crowd, then oh oh, we have to drop into a mud filled river bed, wading waist deep through water. Great! As I scrambled up the river bank on the other side the squelching of my soaked trainers turned into my pacemaker. What I thought would give me an advantage turned out to do opposite, unfortunately, when drenched, Gore-Tex shoes hold water, rather than keep it out. Oh well.

Completing the first run section, I eventually climbed onto my bike and pretty quickly found a speedy pace. The bike section, not surprisingly, is my stronger discipline, which became clearer when I realised that throughout the entire bike section, not a single person overtook me. Granted, the majority of the 300 strong field were already ahead of me (well, half of them anyway), but I must’ve passed at least 120 fellow competitors. I was blasting the bike course which consisted mainly of fire road mixed in with some off-road, mud moguls, and boggy hill climbs. Trying to gain any advantage I could on the bike, I was motoring along up until the point I felt my calves ceasing up. They got worse to the point of agonising pain at which point I had to get off the bike, walk and stretch it out until I could bare the pain whilst riding.

Fortunately, I was close to the end of the bike section when it got bad, but I made it to the next transition where I stretched, changed back into my drenched running shoes from my SPDs, then made it out again on the final leg. This I knew was not going to be fun and was more to do with stamina, patience and endurance than anything else. Stopping regularly to stretch, I made sure that I was able to keep running, or hobbling until finally reaching the finish line 5 km later, 167th of 300, taking 2 hours 18 minutes. Despite the pain I was gained a sense of satisfaction and on the whole it was actually a fun event.

On reflection, If I’d known about the terrain I would have used different tyres to cope with the soft, sandy ground. This could’ve given me at least a couple of minutes on the bike section. The run (or hobbling jog) on the other hand, could’ve been improved with some basic preparation, or training come to that. Now at least I’ll know for next time.

Keep checking back for the next event…

Got to High Beach to meet the others and headed off to begin a spin on the upper trails. Unusual amount of surface water for the time of year, the foliage has sucked up as much of the rainwater as it can leaving a mass of water all over the trails. Normally, heavy rain means heavy mud, but today it was all about the wet mud.

Having teared it up in sliding fashion on the upper side it was time to give the normally wetter lower side a deserved going over. Heading down to the brook where we normally hop into and across the river bed, we were greeted with a torrent of a river about 8 feet wide and flowing fast where there would normally be a trickle a couple of feet wide. In we popped with an almighty splash. (see the attached video clip).

At this point we could quite easily have been swimming as the depth of the water was up to 18 inches at the deepest point. Fun, fun, fun.

Having ridden for two and a half hours in tough going boggy trails it was time to head back to the High Beach tea hut for a well earned ham and chees roll followed by a piece of cake and coffee.

At home I recycle, I use energy saving light bulbs, I turn the tap off whilst brushing my teeth, and the usual guilt induced actions that a typically adult will carry out in a vain attempt to save the planet, or their bank balance (whichever is priority at the time).

There’s no doubt I could be doing so much more to avoid unnecessary energy waste and reduce my carbon footprint at the same time, but I’ve not really considered doing so within the area of my life I thought wasn’t contributing to the destruction of the planet, mountain biking.

I love mountain biking and am lucky enough to live on the edge of a forest where I can freely ride the trails and indulge in the countryside. However, I do like to spread my wings and ride more challenging trails, as those found in Wales or Scotland, for example. I’d also like to experience trails further a field, maybe in Spain, USA, and other known legendary riding zones.

The sustainability drive my employer has just completed along with all the recent media hype surrounding temperature changes and global warming got me thinking about this a little more. It occurred to me that whilst my riding opportunities close to home were not necessarily impacting on my carbon footprint, my jaunts to Wales were seeing my carbon footprint swell.

All the paraphernalia needed to go mountain biking is significant, so going to Wales by train is not practical, meaning the car is essential for getting from A to B. This in itself is a 500 mile round trip during which the car is spewing ozone killing gases into the environment. The thought of going to international destinations to ride is appealing, but the budget flight will inevitably bulge the carbon count to substantial levels.

Thinking about it even more, my local rides as well as the distant ones aren’t without their sacrifices to the planet. After all, what chemicals do I use when cleaning my bike? How much wasted water am I using to jet spray the gunk off my chain set? I use a separate wash to clean my mud-sodden clothes. More energy waste!?. Do the chemicals I use to waterproof my jacket potentially damage to environment? Do the oils and sprays I apply to my stead pre and post ride have any detrimental affects to the land I ride on?

These are some of the questions that I’ve recently asked myself.

I love mountain biking, so while I’m on the trails I do what I can to enjoy them, safe in the knowledge that man and machine are at one, in harmony with my surroundings. It’s only when I get off my bike that the damage begins, assuming I haven’t already spent a BBQ’s worth of carbon getting there.

There’s always a bi-product to the good things in life, however hard you try.